Veterans

Democrats are proud to stand with veterans who have endured great sacrifice to keep our nation safe and protect our freedom. When Democrats were in the White House and controlled Congress, we kept our promise to take care of our nation’s veterans, and we will continue to respond to the needs of veterans and their families.

Democrats updated the G.I. Bill for post-9/11 veterans to strengthen their access to higher education, and recently supported making the G.I. Bill a lifetime benefit for the first time in history. Democrats also expanded employment opportunities by bolstering veterans’ workforce programs and offering a tax credit to businesses that hire unemployed veterans. Democrats in Congress are working to improve health care access and treatment for veterans by cutting red tape, modernizing VA hospitals, building VA outpatient clinics in communities where veterans live, and expanding the health services available under the VA. Democrats also increased the number of VA mental health providers and social workers to meet increased demand, and expanded mental health services.

Democrats are working to eliminate the VA disability appeals backlog so that veterans can receive their benefits in a more timely manner and with fewer errors occurring. We are also taking steps to help veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses find employment, including launching the Veterans Employment Center, which provides a single location for veterans to look for well-paying jobs and utilize career resources and tools.

House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement on the 75th anniversary of the activation of the 99th Pursuit Squadron, the first of several units of African-American airmen trained in Tuskegee, Alabama who served during World War II.

“Tonight, President Obama reminded Congress and the nation that what makes America great is the spirit of service and hard work that manifests from realizing we are all bound together by a common cause. ...

WASHINGTON, DC – House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today in recognition of Veterans Day:

“I join in marking Veterans Day, a day on which we honor the courageous men and women who have risked their lives in defense of our security and our freedom. We are forever grateful to those who served our nation in uniform and who gave so much to preserve the values of democracy, liberty, and equal opportunity upon which America was built.

I joined with many other Members to oppose this year’s Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill out of a deep concern that it does not adequately fund the needs of our nation’s veterans, while using a budget gimmick to get around the sequester cuts imposed by the Republican budget strategy.